Frankfurter cooker



June 15, 1937. s. CHN

FRANKFURT@ cooKER Grignal Filed Aug. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR snm/5.5 gw @Y ,Jaw

A GENE? June 15, 1937.

S. KOHN FRANKFURTER COOKER original Filed Aug. 1s, 1954 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 '491 INVENTR SAMz/z f HN ATEZRNEY titl meses elle te, reet ossee 739,523, August 13, 1934.

This application December 7, 1936, Serial No. 114,660

l S Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in elecvtricel cookers for Frankfurters or the like and particularly to that type of cooker wherein an electric current is passed through the Frankfurter.

Cookers of this type are now generally known but have not attained a. universal use despite the fact that e, monlrfurter cooked in this manner is full avored, delicious and otherwise greatly desired as en article of food.

The one problem which, heretofore, has not been solved, is to maintain proper contact between the Frankfurter and its electrodes. When it is borne in mind that a Frankfurter or the like comprises e thin slain casing filled with ground meets, tats and moisture and that considerable pressure is generated within the casing when the fats and moisture ere heated, it will be realized tiret the tendency of the Frankfurter to burst or the skin casing to fracture et its Weakest point is quite great. In cookers of this type wherein the electrodes pierce the cosine at the ends oi' thelranlrfurter, the tendency was for the weslzened ends of the Frankfurter to onen or spread eport and the much to be desired. intimate Contact of the electrodes with the Freniiurter filling was destroyed. This interrupted the ccoline; until contact Wes again established.

This invention, therefore, seeks to provide an electrical cooker of this type in which the alcove feults are eliminated; which is safe and east'r to operate; which is economical in use; and; which can' ce easily cleaned.

.ein importe-nt object of the invention resides in providing en electrical cooker for Frenlrfurters or the like which is provided with electrodes upon which the ends of the Franirurters may loe impeied in e. manner whereby goed Contact is always melntsined between them end the Frankfurter.

mother object is to provide, in a cooker of this tineol electrodes which are resilientiy mounted so they may follow the spreading por tions of tile Frankfurter ends to retain goed eeetrlcsl Contact therewith.

.il further object of the invention resides `l provision of means carrying the electrodes. W

are easily positioned for varying lengt-lis thicknesses of Frenkfurters.

[o further object is to provide means to conduct eleetricel current to the Frankfurter wherein ne current immediately interrupted when the lrenllurter is removed from the cooker ano. reesteblished immediately upon the placing; of e Frenlfurter in the cooker.

Other objects are to provide means whereby inedveitent bridging of tire electric terminels or the cooker is obviated; to provide a coolrer especially adapted for use in the home; and to provide e. cooker of lerge capacity for use in restaurants, Frankfurter stands and. the like.

(Cl. 21B- 19) The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will become turther apparent from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate. by way of ex` ample, preferred'forms of the invention, and in whichz- Fig. 1 is a. partial longitudinal sectional View of a cooker adapted for use in restaurants, Frankfurter stands and the like, the sectioned portion beingl taken along the line -'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a. cross-sectional view of the cooker shown in Fig. l as taken along the line @-2.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan View thereof.

Fig. l is en enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detail of one of the electrodes, its mounting and its electrical connection to the cooker frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view as taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged detail vertical seon tional View of the electrode mounting.

Fie. '7 is e. top plan view or a preferred form of cooker adapted for home use, the cover and certain other portions being omitted.

Fig. Si is e. partiel elevational and partial vertical sectional vier.' thereof.

Fig. 9 is an elevational detail o one of the electrodes shown in Figs. e and 7.

Fle. lil is a plan view ot an alternate forro of cooker also edapted for nome use.

ll is o. fragmentary, enlarged, vertical sections-1 detail View es token on the line ll-il oi' Fig. lll.

Fie'. l2 is a sectionel detail or" a modified form electrode support erm.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail end particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3, e, 5, 6, and 9 the cooker comprises o. frame or oase l Si which in plan may ice square, rectangular, circular, oval or otherwise suitably shaped and provided with .a top having the opening lll. This frame may be of metal or non-metallic material as desired.

Two opposed Walls are preferably provided et l@ fixed to or integral with the frame et i9 and with irlreaclrling portions 2@ adapted to support between them a grease pan 2l to which is preferably attached e. plurality of partitions as et 'The crease pan is preferably curved as shown end. provided with end walls 26.

Each of the walls iii has affixed an insulating plete on its side nearest the frame wells and thereto is attached at one side o buss ber E@ and at the other a buss bar 2l. These buss tiers ere each respectively provided with a plurality of upstanding spring contacts 28 and The buss oar E@ is provided with a right angled extension il and the tius bar 2l with e. similiar extension 3l which respectively terminate in prongs l2 and 33 adapted to he engaged by e,

plugl 34 at the end of an electric cable 35. In

this manner electric current may be conducted from the cable 35 to the prong 32, extension 39,

buss bar 23, and so to the spring contacts 23', and 5 similarly to the prong 33, extension 3|, buss bar 2'|k and so to the spring contacts 23.

The partitions 22 are so spaced as to provide between them an area adapted to receive from above one or more trays 33. Since all these trays lo are similar only one will be described.

The tray is preferably semi-circular in shape with a vertical wall 31 having a curved cut-out 38 at its straight side and provided with a curved wall 39 notched at 49 at its center and at 4| at its ends. The upper straight side of the tray is provided with a ilat wall 42 interrupted at the cut-out 33. The tray thus described is adapted to be inserted from above into an area between and adjacent one of the partitions 22 and to remain suspended in this position. being supported by the ends 43 of the plate 44 resting on the top I3 of the frame. To facilitate the removal of the tray from the frame the plate 44 is reduced at 45 to provide a hand grip. v

To the underface of the wall 42 and at each side thereof there is provided means to contact the end of a Frankfurter and means to conduct electric current from either of the spring contacts 28 and 29 thereto.

With particular reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6 which illustrate the above means, a connector 43 having a downturned end 41 beyond the end of the tray and adapted to engagel the spring contact 29 and an angularly disposed opposite end 43, is provided. Immediately above the connector 43 is disposed a spring member 49 provided with an angularly bent end 59 spaced from the end 43. Between the ends 43 and 59 and disposed in an opening 5| in the end 48, is a ball 52 on the end of the arm 53. 'I'he connector 43 and spring 49 are insulated from the tray by means of the plate 54I and the plugs -55 and a cover 33 is placed therearound and the entire assembly is held in place by means of the screws 51 which pass through the insulation plugs 55.

The ends 43 and 59 are also provided with a cover 53 which is electrically insulated from the end 59 by the plate 53.

'I'he above provides a universal mounting for the arm 53 so it may be limitedly swung in any direction.

The other end of the arm 53 is provided with an angled extension shouldered at 39 for nonrotational engagement with a cup 3| and having a reduced rounded portion 32. The curved ends 33 of a pair of tines 34 are disposed within the cup and adapted to abut each other through the agency oi' a spring 35, the electrodes 34 thereby assuming a somewhat spread position as shown. The cup 3| is provided with a cut-out 33 so the tion 32. The tines are preferably curved (Fig. 9) and provided with sharpened ends 31. Adjacent the cup, the tines are each provided with an inreaching lug or lugs 33 i'or the purpose later set forth.

A plate washer 39 overlies theupper open end of the cup and the assembly is retanedgby means of the screw 19 engaged in a screw seat in the end of the rounded portion 32.

The top o! theframe and the walls i3 are notched at 1| to permit the passage of the ends 41 when the tray is moved into and out lof the frame. 'Ihese notches are so placed as to per- -mit insertion of the trays only with their open electrodes may be limitedly swung about the porsides adjacent the portions 22 whereby in effect providing a substantially complete enclosure for the Frankfurter formed by the tray walls 31, 39, and 42 and the portion 22.

In operation a tray is removed from the frame and one of the tines of one of the electrodes thereof is thrust into one end of a Frankfurter, the lugs 33 rst being contacted so the tines are substantially parallel. 'Ihe other end of the Frankfurter is similarly pierced by the other tined velectrode of the tray.

The arms 53 are adapted to swing towards and away from each other to accommodate various lengths of Frankfurters and are also adapted to limitedly swing in the opposite plane to accommodate various thicknesses thereof, the slot 33 in the cup 3| permitting each electrode to assume an inline position in relation to the Frankfurter length. The middle of the Frankfurter may or may not, as the case might be, contact the lowermost portion oi' the curved wall of the tray.

The tray is now placed into the frame so the end 41 contacts the spring 29 and the opposite end 41a contacts the spring 23 and electric current may then ow from the spring 29 to the end 41, connector 43, end 43,.bal1 52, arm 53 and so to the electrode 34 into the Frankfurter F, and thence out to the spring contact 23 or vice versa.

During the cooking process the ends of the Frankfurter may open out or curl away but the electrodes under the urgency of the springs 35 will gradually move apart to maintain good electrical contact with the Frankfurter until cooking is completed.

Possible drippings will be collected in the drip pan 2| and the cooking may be inspected through the openings provided by the cut-outs 33 and 45.

The cooker and trays are easily cleaned since each tray may be cleaned separately and the drip pan and partitions may be removed for separate cleaning. y

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a simple device for the purpose and adapted for home use, is shown.

lA circular dish 39 is provided with supporting legs 3| and to the bottom 32 of the dish is attached an insulating block 33 having a pair of up standing posts 84 protruding through the bottom of the dish.

An open-topped cup 35 rests on the dish bottom and the posts 34 also pass therethrough and through an insulating plate 33. One post carries a conductor 31 having a spring arm 33 and contactors 39 4and 99 and the other post carries a similar conductor 9|, having a spring arm 92 and contactors 93 and 94.

An insulating washer 95 sets on each conductor 31, 9| and above each washer is respectively placed a metal washer or the like 93 and 91.

A screw 93 passes through one post to electri-L cally connect the washer 93 to a prong 99 and a similar screw |99 passes through the other post to electrically connect the washer 91 to the prong |9|. I

The contactors respectively engage against the inner portions oi insulated balls 52a, 52h, 52o, and 52d on the arms 53a, 53b, 53o, and 53d.

Electrodes such as previously described are carriedon the other ends oi' the respective arms at 34a, 34D, 34e, and 34d.

An insulating member |92 is adapted to overlle the spring arms 33 and 92 and is provided with a conical socket |93 receptive of the downreaching conical boss |94 on the cover plate |95 of the cup. A central opening is provided in the cover plate |15 and a stud |06 fixed with a dish cover ||l1 is adapted to pass through said opening to press upon the member |02 and soto cause the spring arm 88 to .contact the washer 91 andthe spring arm 92 to contact the washer 96.

Now when a Frankfurter is positioned as shown. between the electrodes 64o and 64d, the current therethrough will flow as iollowsz--prong t8, screw 98, washer 96, arm 92, conductor di, contactor 93, hall 52e, arm 53o, electrodes 66e, Frankfurter F, electrodes 65a, arm 53a, ballon, contactor 89, conductor tl, ann 8d, washer Sl, screw |00 and prongs itl or vice versa. Similarly, the current would pass through a Frankfurter conu nected between the electrodes 6th and 56d.

It will be noted thatcurrent is supplied to the Frankurters only when the cover lill is in place,

the weight oi which is utilized to close the gaps between Q2 and Qt, and B8 and dl.

'The orrn of the invention shown in Figs. lll and l1 provides for a device somewhat similar to the on'e last described, except in this instance one prong lill is carried with the dish @d and the other prong lil is carried with the cover lill and the plug tit is insertable 'through an opening il? in the cover to supply current to the prongs liti and Hi. To accomplish this, a spring contact ||3 engages the conductor nl when the cover is placed in position over the dish by nrst engaging the notches lill with the headed studs llt and then dropping the hole H6 over the stud lll. lit is apparent, therefore, that no current can be supplied to the cooker until the cover is in place over the dish.

If desired the employment of the balls 52 to provide universal movement of the arms t3 may be dispensed with and instead the arms may be flexible as shown at 53' in Fig. l2 wherein, a stranded wire cahle is illustrated although a close wound coil spring may be utilized for the pur- D0Se- From the foregoing it can be seen that simple and practical forms' of the invention in its preferred embodiments has been described. It is also apparent that many changes and modications in the structure, form, size and arrangements of the parts may well be made without departing from the true spirit and general scope of the invention as outlined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In anelectrical cooker for Frankfurters or the like, an electrode comprising a cup, a pair of tines, each having a curved rear end nesting in said cup in opposed relation to the other and relatively movable therein, the other end of `each tine being sharpened, and spring means normally urging apart the sharpened ends 'of the tines so their rear curved ends abut.

2. In an electrical cooker for Frankfurters or the like, an electrode comprising a cup, a pair of tines, each having a curved rear end nesting in said cup, in opposed relation to each other, said tlnes being movable relative to each other within said cup, the other end of each tine being sharp- `ened, lug means on each tine intermediate its length, and spring means normally urging apart the sharpened ends of the tines so their rear curved ends abut, said lug means abutting ywhen the tinesl are moved towards each other preps-.ratory to piercing a Frankfurter. l

3. In an electrical cooker for Frankfurter-s or the like, an electrode comprising a pair ci relatively movable tines normally disposed at an acute angle with respect to each other and adapted to be moved towardsy each other until they are substantially parallel preparatory to piercing a Frankfurter, and means urging the tlnes to their normal position after insertion thereof in the end of a Frankfurter to maintain good electrical contact with the meat or the .Frankfurter to prevent arcing.

Il. In an electrical cocher for Ifranwtn'ters or the like, spaced arms, a universal mounting ior each arm, and an electrode at the free end oi each arm, each electrode comprising a pair of relatively movable resiliently mounted tines, adapted when moved toward each other to pierce and enter the end of a Frankfurter and adapted when so entered, to tend to spread apart 'to meintain good electrical Contact with the meat oi the Frankfurter to prevent arcing.

5. An electrical cooker .for Frankfurters or the like comprising a casing having an opening, a plurality of trays adapted to loe inserted into said openingP a pair of spaced electrodes carried by each tray, each electrode comprising a pair or relatively movable tines which are norrnallx,7 nrged apart, and the electrodes o each pair being adapted when its rtines are held closely adjacent each other, to pierce and enter the opposite ends of a Frankfurter, and cooperating means between each tray and the frame to conduct electrical current to the Frankfurter.

6. An electrical cooker for Frankfurters or the like comprising a dish, a'cover therefor, opposed pairs of electrodes adapted to pierce and enter the4 ends of a Frankfurter carried by the dish, a universal mounting within the dish for each electrode, normally open switch means v`carried by the dish, means to connect the switch to a source of electric current, and means carried by the cover to close the switch means, whereby cnrrent is carried to the electrodes.

'1. An electrical cooker for Frankfurters or the like comprising a dish, normally open switch means disposed in the center of said dish, opposed pairs of electrodes universally mounted adjacent the switch means and adapted to pierce and enter the ends of a Frankfurter and in electrical circuit with said switch means, a cover for the dish, and means on the cover adapted to close the switch means to conduct current from a current source to the electrodes.

8. In an electrical cooker for Frankfurter-s or the like, spaced arms,"a universal ball and socket spread apart to maintain good electrical contactA with the meat of the Frankfurter to preventarcing.\ SAMUEL KOEN.. 

